Dartford

Dartford's population expanded in the decade to 2011. Data from the census also show there were changes in marriage, religion and housing tenure.

The population passed 97,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Dartford increased by 13%, from just over 85,900 to 97,400.

The addition of just over 11,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Dartford was home to, on average, 9.6 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Dartford

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Dartford increased by one year, from 36 to 37 years.

This suburban area had a lower average age than the South East and remained slightly younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of almost 3,800 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 600.

About 15% of people in Dartford are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Dartford by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Dartford

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in Dartford at a faster rate than across the South East.

In Dartford, the proportion of single people increased from 29% in 2001 to 35% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 29% to 32%.

Across the South East, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 29% to 32%.

The proportion of married people in Dartford fell from 52% to 47%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 11% to 12%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Dartford

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 29% said they had no religion. An increase from 16% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing religious group in Dartford.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Dartford that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 63,000 in 2001 to just over 59,000 in 2011 (from 73% to 61%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from just under 7,400 to just under 6,400 (from 8.6% to 6.6%).

Just under 1,600 people (0.7%) said they were Muslim, up from just under 600 in 2001 (1.6%).

The population without a religion in Dartford increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Dartford by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Dartford

The percentage of Dartford residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 6.5% to 6.1% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities remained close to 2.6%, while the percentage of Dartford residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 91%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 6.8% in 2001 to 6.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Dartford at a faster rate than in Havering (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Dartford).

In Dartford, the proportion of private renting increased from 8.0% in 2001 to 16% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Havering increased from 5.5% to 11%.

Across the South East, the share of privately rented homes increased from 10% to 16%.

The rate of social housing in Dartford fell from 16% to 15%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 74% to 67%.

Private renting in Dartford increased by 7.9 percentage points

Percentage of households in Dartford, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Dartford

In 2011, 87% of the local population said they were from the White ethnic groups. An increase from 95% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing ethnic group in Dartford.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across the South East (from 95% to 91%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Dartford from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 2,700 in 2001 to about 5,800 in 2011 (from 3.2% to 6.0%). The number of residents from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from about 760 to about 3,600 (from 0.9% to 3.7%).

About 2,200 people (1.2%) said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from about 1,000 in 2001 (2.2%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Dartford decreased by 7.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Dartford by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Dartford working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 14% to 11% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 1 in 40 (2.3%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.4% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 14% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Dartford decreased by 3.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Dartford, the South East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Dartford residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.4% to 4.4% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (83%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 70% in 2001. The percentage of Dartford residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 12%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Dartford decreased by 2.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Dartford, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More single parents

The percentage of households in Dartford, which comprised a single parent, increased from 9.0% to 11% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over one in three (34%) households had a married couple, compared with 39% in 2001. The percentage of households in Dartford, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 11% to 12%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.0% in 2001 to 9.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 11%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent in Dartford increased by 2.4 percentage points

Percentage of households in Dartford, the South East and England that had a single parent, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Dartford residents that were unemployed increased from 2.5% to 4.4% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who said they were employed remained close to 58%, while the percentage of Dartford residents that were self-employed increased from 7.8% to 9.8%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.3% in 2001 to 3.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Dartford increased by 1.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Dartford, the South East and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes with children

The percentage of households with children increased in Dartford, while falling in Medway (one of the most statistically similar areas to Dartford based on ONS area classifications).

In Dartford, the proportion went up from 31% in 2001 to 32% in 2011, while across England it fell from 34% to 32%. During the same period, the regional proportion remained close to 29%.

The proportion of households without children in Dartford fell from 59% to 57%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents increased from 9.9% to 10%.

The proportion of households with children was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Dartford residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.7% to 2.2% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 0.9%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 1.7% in 2001 to 2.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Dartford remained close to 2.2%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Dartford by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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